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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask dating advice as out of touch

106 replies

Outoftouch11 · 17/09/2019 21:40

It’s so long since I dated. Basically going to have a second date at the weekend. I’m really attracted to him. His communication by text in between is scarce and sometimes quite short.
I reckon he’s probably still seeing other people, but it’s only our second date next week anyway.
The advice I want to ask is- what does asking in for a coffee mean these days?! He’s driving to my side of town at the weekend and we will go to dinner then I’ll ask him back for a coffee as he will be driving me back to my place.
I don’t feel comfortable though either sleeping with someone on the second date or even having them stay over as I feel I don’t know them yet.
So these days, does asking in for a coffee mean that you can be amorous, kissing etc, then he needs to leave ? So out of touch so tell me if this would be normal? Thanks x

OP posts:
Henrysmycat · 18/09/2019 06:36

Some great advice here.
Also, you need to change “the narrative” of your past. You refused to be someone fuckbuddy and they broke up with you. Instead of being scared or upset of that experience, you should celebrate for freeing yourself of unnecessary drama of a relationship that you wanted more and he was not willing to do. A decent human that wanted you, wouldn’t mind. I’d say hooray and good riddance!
Now with this guy: he can be the most charming handsome amazing man but you really don’t know him. Can you 100% tell me he’s a good one? Once inside, he won’t pressure you or do thing beyond the point you feel comfortable?
Like it was suggested, change the plans and put your safety first.
“Change of plans! I’ll meet you at the restaurant.”
You don’t need to justify it or apologise, a “had to be somewhere” should suffice. Or just be honest;
I’ve been out of the dating game for years but I’ve lived it thru my friends. It’s a lot “faster” than 20 years ago, from date to sex. But many of my friends put themselves first. You do what you feel comfortable.

Bobbie3 · 18/09/2019 06:47

wriring as a man just be honest. Say thanks for a lovely evening and go into your house by yourself. Send a text within a few
Minutes saying that you want another date and suggest eg afternoon out.

It took me about 8 dates over 6 weeks before I first kissed the gf...but we have lots of fun days out (nothing sexual) in the meantime. We took it slowly and it was the best thing ever...

A good relationship is not all about sex. It needs to be about being there for one another...

WhatWhyWhen · 18/09/2019 06:54

Come and join the dating thread, lots of good rules and advice!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/3693971-Dating-thread-170-Know-your-worth?msgid=90157684#90157684

WhatWhyWhen · 18/09/2019 06:54

Oh and yes be clear on your boundaries, any man worth his salt will respect them. If he’s gone because of them then he’s not for you anyway.

northernknickers · 18/09/2019 07:06

OP...once again, you seem to be spectacularly missing the very good advice given here and insisting that you are going to invite him in!

Why? (I'll break it down)

A) Why do feel the need to invite him in? (Because despite any insistence on your part that there will be no sex, he will still think there's a chance...and try... he's a man)

B) Why are you ignoring the advice of almost every poster, who have very clearly had more experience than you?

I'm really worried that you are setting yourself up for a huge disappointment here at the very least. You sound incredibly naive about this.

Carshmar · 18/09/2019 07:14

I once read a horrific dating book when I was a teenager (think it was the rules) but one thing was good about it - it said something that I have remembered as ‘turn up, be nice, good night and go home’ which meant you are free to set your own boundaries, a date does not have to come with expectations that you’ll have sex or do anything after the date, and if someone likes you they’ll be fine with it.

It was really freeing during my twenties when a lot of friends agonised over whether they should be inviting people back because they were sort of ‘obliged to’. You are totally fine to say ‘well this was lovely, thanks so much (if they paid), I’ll see you again soon hopefully!’ And then just do one. I wouldn’t even get a lift home tbh if you think it’s going to put pressure on.

NameChange84 · 18/09/2019 07:24

@Bobbie3 honestly, reading your post was like a breath of fresh air.

Outoftouch11 · 18/09/2019 09:48

Thank you so much for all the posts- keep them coming if possible as it’s great advice
I’m very reassured to know that it’s ok to not invite someone in. I’ve been out of the dating way for so long I’ve lost track of things.
Great to hear a man’s perspective as well!Thankyou.
I will text him tomorrow night re about being in Road X already so that I’ll just meet him there and I’ll have my own car.
Part of me thinks that I may still invite him back for a while but if I did I’d make it clear when I’m saying it that it’s only for a while and not to sleep with him- obviously this bit is going against the good advice but I’m just being truthful as I think I may invite him but make it clear.
His text the other day saying about coming to my bit of town did make me think that he’s after more but as I said I’d make it clear.
As I said before, bit I’m a little disappointed with is not more texting contact in between. I was in a long term relationship before, and I’m sure when I started seeing him there would be texting every couple of days at least asking how day is going etc, and as I said, we did get on really well on first date. Only other thing I noticed was after first date, he didn’t walk me right to my car although this was in the same street as his, but I don’t know if this was nerves as he’d just asked me for second date.
Sorry for the long rambling post and for sounding so caught up in this. My last relationship was long term so this is all new again to me.

OP posts:
ElizaDee · 18/09/2019 10:08

Making it clear you aren't up for it means nothing if he's not one of the good ones and you are in your home alone with him.

You'll be sending very mixed signals by inviting him in and saying it's just a drink. He may think you are being coy, like saying no while nodding your head.

Being invited in equals sex for most people, I don't know why you are so insistent on inviting someone you don't know into your home Confused

Outoftouch11 · 18/09/2019 10:17

ElizaDee- I had met him a few times in a group socially before the first date and chatted to him and I guess that’s why I feel I know him better
I know what you’re saying though.

OP posts:
NameChange84 · 18/09/2019 10:29

Ok. You need a crash course in Matthew Hussey. Look him up on YouTube and binge watch his videos.

Bottom line...don't give him what he hasn't earned. And I'm not talking just about sex here or using sex as some sort of weapon. Don't be investing loads in the way of time and attention if he's not at least meeting you half way. You invest a bit, he invests a bit.

The texting thing...chances are, in this day and age, that he is dating and maybe even sleeping with a few other women. So he'll be texting them and texting you based on where you are at in the stages of dating. Sorry to be harsh but it's easier to end contact with someone you've decided you don't want to see past the second or third date if you've not been that communicative throughout the process.

You seem very set on wanting to invite this man into your home. Do you really know him that well? Has he earned the right to have access to your personal space? Why the rush?

Don't let the "he's in your bit of town" guilt trip you into feeling obliged to let him in. Even if you say that you are not inviting him in for sex, he is more than likely going to try to take things further, especially if you are moving things to a more physical level anyway (you mentioned "getting a bit amorous" in your OP). What's your plan if he turns nasty or becomes forceful whilst you are alone in your home?

Look if you want to have sex with him on the second date with him that's fine and absolutely your call. But if you already know you don't, you can't give him mixed messages. How will you make it clear? And why do you want him in your home? What's the gut reason?

To me, saying "You can come back to mine and we can make out on my sofa but absolutely not have sex" is sending mixed messages. You can say, if you actually feel this way, "Listen, I'm not going to lie I am really attracted to you and, although its tempting with you I'll admit, I don't sleep with men this early on in dating. I need a bit more time to get to know someone a bit better before I feel ready to make that sort of commitment. I would love to see you again. Thank you for a lovely evening."

It communicates that there is sexual desire there but that you want to take things slowly and need more investment from him before sex is on the cards.

If sex is the only reason he was dating you anyway, he will bin you off. If he genuinely likes you as a person, he can hold off until you are ready and feel safer.

Remember, its not just about him liking you, you need to ask yourself "does this man have qualities and values that I admire in another human being?". He's already not meeting some of your expectations. For what it's worth, I think they are reasonable expectations.

I got my heart put through the blender by an ex and some wise person said, "I bet, if you look back, there was a moment really early on that you ignored or made an excuse for that showed you who he really was." And they were right. Within the first month, the first time we went out at night together, I told him that I'd struggled to find parking and was going to have to walk through a deserted area in a dangerous city on my own and that I was afraid. I asked him if he wouldn't mind coming with me and that in return I'd drop him home in another city no where near where I lived. He said I needed to take more responsibility for my own safety and the possible repercussions and that he would get a taxi home as planned. He showed no care whatsoever and was really cold given the fact I was clearly anxious. I'm ashamed to admit this but he actually said "You're a big girl and you should have thought about all this before. If you get raped it's your own fault." And yes...I went on to have a relationship with him that lasted for another year Blush. Because I'm a people pleaser and in my head I felt foolish and thought he must be right and I was stupid and wrong to even ask him. I left that relationship with my self esteem in tatters from the emotional abuse he later subjected me to.

It would have cost nothing to walk you to your car. It's what any decent guy would do imo. Texting a bit more often, without pressuring you for your address or trying to guilt trip you into sex is a reasonable expectation. If he's not treating you how you like this early on then its probably not going to work long term. The early stages should be the easy part.

NameChange84 · 18/09/2019 10:33

And ps. He's not the only man out there Wink. You will have other options.

Outoftouch11 · 18/09/2019 10:43

NameChange84- you sound very switched on.
Thank you for your post!
I did wonder about not walking me right to my car. We had stopped at his car and he asked me out again, I accepted and then I had kind of pointed and said “ I’m parked just up there”
Maybe he thought it was the car that was in eyeshot of us? I was only parked a minute away but most guys I’ve seen in the past would walk
me to my car.
I’m going to be honest here- I’m really attracted to him and I feel that if he is in my part of town( he lives in a town maybe 30mins away) and I don’t ask him in then I don’t think he’ll see me again or won’t be so keen.
When I’m typing this I realise that’s sounding naive as some have said.
It did surprise me re the short abrupt texts saying he’d come to where I am and also the direst ones offering to pick me up and ask for my address—but then nothing after that.

OP posts:
NameChange84 · 18/09/2019 10:59

I’m going to be honest here- I’m really attracted to him and I feel that if he is in my part of town( he lives in a town maybe 30mins away) and I don’t ask him in then I don’t think he’ll see me again or won’t be so keen.

30 minutes is nothing. Lots of people date over much longer distances than that and don't make a big deal out of it. He shouldn't make that an issue.

I cannot make this more clear - if he is pushing to come home with you it is because he is expecting you to sleep with him. Him sleeping with you does not mean he wants a relationship with you. It means he wants to sleep with you. Him being prepared to accept no for an answer and go home without sleeping with you and then sorting out another date with you regardless of whether you have sex or not on that date means he is at least interested in the potential of a relationship.

You could easily invite him in, then he sleeps with you and immediately blocks you the next day with no explanation. Or you sleep with him on several occasions but never get any commitment at all because he's decided early on that your connection is only sexual and he's happy to just have you as a fuck buddy until some girlfriend potential crops up elsewhere.

If you invite him in and don't have sex with him I expect that he'll think you are a tease, feel really put off by that and decide you aren't for him anyway.

It's when you are most attracted to someone that you need to be the most careful how you handle things.

sweepysue · 18/09/2019 11:06

OP I've done the online dating.

Invitation into house is basically invitation for sexy time I would say.

Do not let this man let know where you live so soon! You don't know anything about him.

8/10 times the people who I met up with didn't live up to my expectations, photos were old & a few of them I didn't even recognise them upon first meet.

First dates can be really awkward, you need time to see how you feel after first date, never mind inviting him in for coffee & dealing with that 'crossed wires' scenario
as a lot of people use OLD for leg over purposes nowadays, although not everyone.

Good luck & keep where you live private until & if you feel more comfortable.

sweepysue · 18/09/2019 11:12

Sorry OP, it's not your first date 🤦‍♀️

But rest of my reply stands.

Invitation into house so soon is initiating sexy time I'd say!

NameChange84 · 18/09/2019 11:15

@sweepysue its not OLD either lol they met off line as part of a group which seems to have lulled OP into a false sense of security AND shes already given him her address Sad.

Outoftouch11 · 18/09/2019 11:16

sweepysue- Thanks - it’s the second date and I stupidly texted my address as I was caught off guard(7am and wasn’t thinking straight when he texted) and this is very out of character for me.
I’m normally a very careful person.
So if he has driven even - think it’s more like 45mins actually - as he specifically suggested going a restaurant near where I am, and I don’t ask him in, I’m taking it from the posts above, that folk think this is fine.
If I didn’t fancy him so much it would be very easy. Problem is I really fancy him but would never sleep with anyone so soon.
The ‘ briefly married’ thing did ring a little alarm bell for me as it does make you think; why was the marriage so brief?
And I think he may work in another part of the country a fair bit so yes I think there’s a good chance he is seeing others

OP posts:
Pinkdoor · 18/09/2019 11:17

I was 'briefly married' and am not a cunt. Plenty of people stay in unhappy marriages for a long time, some of us realise our mistake quickly and get out

NameChange84 · 18/09/2019 11:23

45mins actually - as he specifically suggested going a restaurant near where I am, and I don’t ask him in, I’m taking it from the posts above, that folk think this is fine.

Its not just fine, it's the absolutely normal and safe thing to do. If he doesn't see you again after that based on you not inviting him in it's because he was only interested in sex with you not a relationship. He's only getting in a car and driving to a restaurant to have a meal wlith you. Not performing emergency open heart surgery half way up a mountain on your grandma! Driving 45 minutes doesn't entitle him to anything other than the actual date. I don't care how gorgeous or sexy or whatever he is, do not take risks with your own personal safety and do not compromise your own values for someone you barely know who can't be arsed to text you properly or walk you one minute to your car.

Outoftouch11 · 18/09/2019 11:28

NameChange84 - your posts are very good for a reality check to me. Thinking of how attractive I find him, I’m guessing it’s not difficult for him to meet people and have dates and the fact that he is sometimes working in other parts of the uk maybe makes it easier for him to be asking others out or seeing other people I guess.

OP posts:
ElizaDee · 18/09/2019 11:33

So if he has driven even - think it’s more like 45mins actually - as he specifically suggested going a restaurant near where I am, and I don’t ask him in, I’m taking it from the posts above, that folk think this is fine.

That is perfectly fine.

My now DH drove 1.5hrs every week when we first met. If I didn't want to sleep with him that would have been fine (I did, first date). The second time we went out I went home as I became ill. I said 'here's fine' just around the corner but he insisted on driving me closer, he said 'don't worry, I don't want to know where you live but I'll drop you at the end of your road so you don't have to walk so far'. He said later me not letting him know where I lived so early really jumped me up in his estimation, for want of a better phrase, and we are now married.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 18/09/2019 11:41

I really wouldn't invite him in if you don't want sex. I think it's far more likely that things will go wrong if you invite him in and there are mixed messages than if you don't invite him in, it's not expected on a second date.

If you feel he's got shorter in messaging already, and it's putting you on edge, I'd definitely not invite him in. We can't tell you if he's losing interest, but if you suspect he is, you don't want to end up having sex with him and then him bugger off.

Half an hours drive is nothing. Let it progress naturally, at a rate you are comfortable with, and if it's meant to be, it'll last. Inviting him in just risks adding expectation and confusion.

no42 · 18/09/2019 11:44

OP, could I ask how old you both are?

It sounds as if you’re over thinking this to be honest. No need for any shenanigans about “I’ll be in x street anyway.”’ Let him pick you up. It’s fine. When he drops you off later, just say you had a lovely evening and thankyou very much etc, then get out the car. It’s as simple as that.

No actual adult man in his right mind would expect to come in your house so soon, let alone stay the night.

Try and relax. If he’s interested, he won’t disappear because you don’t let him in!

Outoftouch11 · 18/09/2019 12:08

ElizaDee- sorry to ask personal question- do you mean you did sleep with him in first date and he’s now your husband?
no42- I feel better about texting tomorrow to say I’ll be in X street anyway as he’s been very short with the texts. To be honest I feel that if I don’t, he may be assuming that he’s coming in at the end of the night. At least then I’ll be backing off a little bit so the expectations are more realistic maybe? I’m confused.
We are both late forties. I’ve just been out the dating game as I was in a longterm relationship

OP posts: